17/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1444a — Fosterage Makes Family Boundaries
"Breastfeeding Makes Unlawful What Birth Makes Unlawful."
Hadith About Fosterage and Family Boundaries
Sahih Muslim : 1444a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1444a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، أَخْبَرَتْهَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ عِنْدَهَا وَإِنَّهَا سَمِعَتْ صَوْتَ رَجُلٍ يَسْتَأْذِنُ فِي بَيْتِ حَفْصَةَ . قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا رَجُلٌ يَسْتَأْذِنُ فِي بَيْتِكَ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أُرَاهُ فُلاَنًا " . لِعَمِّ حَفْصَةَ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ . فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ كَانَ فُلاَنٌ حَيًّا - لِعَمِّهَا مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ - دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " نَعَمْ إِنَّ الرَّضَاعَةَ تُحَرِّمُ مَا تُحَرِّمُ الْوِلاَدَةُ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was with her and she heard the voice of a person seeking permission to enter the house of Hafsa. 'A'isha (Allah he pleased with her) said: Allah's Messenger, he is the person who seeks permission to enter your house, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: I think he is so and so (uncle of Hafsa by reason of fosterage). 'A'isha said: Messenger of Allah, if so and so (her uncle by reason of fosterage) were alive, could he enter my house? Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Yes. Fosterage makes unlawful what consanguinity makes unlawful.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1444aIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 1USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3395
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1444a
This hadith about fosterage explains a clear family rule in simple words. A'isha heard a man asking permission to enter Hafsa's house. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم identified him as a foster uncle of Hafsa. A'isha then asked whether her own foster uncle, if he were alive, could enter her house. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered yes and gave the main principle: fosterage makes unlawful what birth makes unlawful. The point is not just about entry into a house. It shows that breastfeeding can create a real family tie in the area of marriage barriers and close family access. The report teaches care, asking before acting, and respect for the limits Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم explained.
What we learn from this hadith
- Fosterage can create family limits similar to blood relations.
- A person should ask when unsure about family access and privacy.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave a clear principle instead of leaving the matter vague.
